Meaning: Pure; English pet form of Katherine (Greek Aikaterine: pure) or Christopher (Greek: bearer of Christ)High
In 30 seconds: A one-syllable English pet form of Katherine (pure) or Christopher (bearer of Christ). Long used for both boys and girls, Kit now trends as a standalone name — breezy, vintage, and literary.
MeaningPure; English pet form of Katherine (Greek Aikaterine: pure) or Christopher (Greek: bearer of Christ)
U.S. rank (2024)#1240 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births188 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,107
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
History & Origin
Kit is an English diminutive of Katherine or Christopher. Both Christopher Marlowe and Kit Carson bore this name as adults, giving it both literary and frontier associations. As a girls' name it is now rising as a standalone vintage choice.
Kit ranked #1240 for girls in 2024.
Did you know? Kit Carson (1809–1868), the legendary American frontiersman and explorer, popularized this as a bold masculine name in the American West. Meanwhile, Kit Marlowe (Christopher Marlowe, 1564–1593) gave it a literary shimmer in Elizabethan England.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name — Kit — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data
Variations
KatherineChristopher
Nicknames
—
Famous Bearers
Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Kit…
Dot— one-syllable vintage British feminine name in the same category
Bea— one-syllable vintage British name with the same crisp character
Nell— one-syllable vintage British name in the same revival
Fern— one-syllable nature name with the same literary vintage feel
Rue— one-syllable literary name with the same minimalist quality
Frequently Asked
What does the name Kit mean?
Kit means 'pure' as a pet form of Katherine, or 'bearer of Christ' as a pet form of Christopher.
